Education CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by the Governing Body at—St. Luke’s Science and Sport College

THE GOVERNORS CONSIDERED THE POINTS EXPRESSED IN THE EMAIL

The purpose, roles and responsibilities

St. Luke’s governing body see themselves as assisting the Principal and college, not ruling, we feel that we should have balance in being the “critical friend” and supportive, but also to question the decisions made. The governors are engaged in a two way communication process. We take an interest in the wider context, such as extended services, clubs held in the building and the local community.

The implications of recent policy

Governors keep abreast of policies, reading, approving and revising as necessary. Part of our brief is to check on OFSTED and to challenge the college and ourselves.

Recruiting and developing govs

St Luke’s governors feel we have a good training package provided by Devon County Council and Babcock, this was free to governors but, there is now a cost to the college. Governors are encouraged to attend topics from—new governors, SEN, Personnel, Finance, Safeguarding etc. Governors appreciate the training offered.

The structure and membership

Our instrument of government: Voluntary Controlled School, states that we have seven parent governors, five Foundation governors, four staff governors, two community governors, two LEA governors and two sponsor governors, total 22. We currently have a vacancy for a sponsor governor and a foundation governor.

Previously the full governing body would meet and could spend up to four or five hours at each meeting, it was decided to have sub-committees, and this system has worked well for some years now. We have a Finance and Premises Committee, Personnel Committee, Learning/Curriculum Committee and Ethos Committee, these meet once every half term. We also have a Chairs’ Committee which meets following the subcommittees and before the meeting of the full governing body

Governors complete a skills analysis which assists the Chair to check on skills and interests of the governors. We are currently building up our profile on the college web site.

The effectiveness and accountability of govs

In the past the governing body endeavoured to link with the different faculties, with individual governors having responsibility for a particular subject area, however with changes in the governing body membership this became difficult to do, so we have set up “Governor Engagement”. The governing body meet with staff in the first half of the Autumn term, we then provide two small groups of governors who meet with staff every half term following, a report is written and shared with the Head of Department and the Principal. A copy of the reports is kept and can be accessed by OFSTED inspectors. We have also set up to review the areas we visited in the last academic year, looking at the exam results achieved.

Whether new arrangements

NO, our governors do not want paying, expenses for attending courses can be paid by the College. Our reasons for becoming and maintaining being a governor are more to do with wanting to be involved and support the College, for parent govs. It means being involved with their child’s education. Staff governors feel they can contribute, some were around when PFI was set up. As a Foundation Governor I have always been interested in education and when the vacancy occurred I thought this would be an opportunity to put my Christian beliefs into action, we all want the best for the students and staff.

The relationship between governing body and other

We don’t feel that the governing body should have direct contact with other partners as mentioned, but, should check that the college has these relationships in place. We feel that relationships forged within the local community are important and support these, and are pleased to see that St Luke’s are part of the PIXL partnership. Governors attend College activities and are beginning to have a higher profile at Parents’ evenings.

As Chair, I have invited the chair of governors from the local primary school and the local specialist school to come in to St Luke’s and I am hoping this invitation will be returned in the New Year.

Whether changes should be made

The governing body at St Luke’s are not looking to have changes made to our current system, we feel that our current model is working well.

December 2012